Fast food workers are planning protests and acts of civil
disobedience that could lead to arrest in more than 150 U.S.
cities on Thursday as part of a demonstration supporting
higher wages.

McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King are among the restaurants
that will be targeted, according to organizers.

This is the latest in a string of protests involving fast-food
workers.

Protestors stormed
McDonald's headquarters in May ahead of its annual
shareholders meeting, leading to dozens of arrests. The company
was forced to vacate one of the buildings on its campus as a
result of the demonstration.

Protesters clash with law
enforcement at McDonald's headquarters.Reuters

Earlier in May, workers in more
than 100 cities across the U.S. walked off their jobs. Workers
and supporters also protested at the chains' international
locations in 30 countries.

Protestors are calling for a $15 minimum wage. The federal
minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour, which adds up to about
$15,000 a year assuming a 40-hour workweek.

In a Labor Day speech in Milwaukee, President Obama mentioned the
protestors' campaign, saying, "All across the country right now
there’s a national movement going on made up of fast-food workers
organizing to lift wages so they can provide for their families
with pride and dignity. There is no denying a simple truth. America
deserves a raise."

Obama added that he would want a union "looking out" for
him if he worked in the service industry.

"If I were busting my butt in the service industry and wanted an
honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work, I’d join a union," he
said. "I’d want a union looking out for me."

Getty

The National Restaurant
Association argues that unions are organizing the protests to
increase their membership.

The fast food movement is funded and organized by
the Service Employees International Union. In addition
to protests, labor organizers have been calling attention to
abuses in the fast food industry with
lawsuits alleging wage theft.

In one
recent case, a McDonald's franchise owner was forced to pay
nearly $500,000 in back wages to employees who were illegally
underpaid.